With a Well-Set-Up Vinyl Rig, No..................

Posted by Todd Krieger (A) on March 8, 2012 at 21:21:12

In Reply to: Will my CDs ever sound as good as vinyl? posted by ggking7 on March 8, 2012 at 07:29:04:

“Will my ripped CDs ever sound as good as vinyl at 45rpm?”

I think the sample rate and bit depth are insufficient to capture vinyl at its absolute full resolution........ The ideal sample rate for digital audio IMO would be 60 kHz, with 18-bit wordlength.

“My main system is digital with no preamp, just a computer as source. I rip my CDs to FLAC.”

As long as you convert back to WAV prior to playing back, you’re OK. I don’t like how FLAC or other lossless compression sounds when decoded in real time.

“My alternate system is tiny and a fraction of the cost of the main system, but on it I play only vinyl 45s.”

I don’t know of an audiophile grade turntable that plays only 7-inch 45s............

“The digital system used to sound better, 45s had just a little something the digital system didn't have. Then I got a Zerodust and everything changed. Now I feel like I can hear to the bottom of the recording on vinyl and it has a lot the digital system doesn't have. The resolution is much greater and the sound is much more lifelike. The vinyl system sounds like real music and the digital system sounds like a representation of music.”

Join the club........

There is more and more news that vinyl is making a comeback..............

“Is this the nature of the beast, or can ripped CDs be made to sound as good as vinyl 45s?”

A good dedicated CD player in my opinion sounds better than ripping CDs to a computer and playing them pack there.

“Digital system:
- FLAC files on a Linux computer with relatively quiet power supply running mpd bit-perfect
- Wireworld Starlight USB cable
- Wavelength Proton USB DAC wrapped in two layers of conductive foam
- Nordost Baldur interconnect
- Bryston 3B-ST amp
- Nordost Blue Heaven speaker wire
- Magnepan MMG speakers heavily modified on Sound Anchor stands
- everything on Barry's isolation stands with Rollerblock Jr. HDSE cups and Tungsten Carbide grade 10 balls
- computer and amp connected to separate Tripp Lite isolation transformers with Pangea AC-9 power cables
- all >=2.4Ghz wireless signals in the apartment are disabled”

I’d do all files in non-compressed WAV. Or convert the FLAC files to temporary WAV files as a separate step prior to playing the tracks.

I once used the USB cable you have....... You might want to upgrade to WyWires..... I like it a lot better.

“Vinyl system:
- Pro-Ject Debut III with built-in preamp and acrylic platter upgrade
- Ortofon OM20 cartridge”

It only plays “45s?”

“- generic interconnect
- Audioengine 2A powered speakers
- Belkin PureAV PCOCC speaker wire
- turntable and powered speakers connected to the same Tripp Lite isolation transformer with stock power cables
- stylus brush, Zerodust, and record brush used after each side”

I don’t think any PC based playback will beat this, as long as you have the vinyl rig set up properly...... Even a dedicated CD player would have a hard time.

“I think the Tripp Lite isolation transformers must be the weak link in my digital system, but a BPT BP-1 Ultra arrives tomorrow.”

The Tripp Lite is fine. The OneAC CP11xx series is even better. The products targeted for industrial use IMO are no worse than the products targeted for audiophile use. And they’re far less expensive.

“I tried an RSA Haley but it couldn't handle the electrical noise levels in this apartment. The Tripp Lite isolators cut the noise completely but they aren't audiophile-grade.”

As I stated, the Tripp Lite is a good product.

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Will my CDs ever sound as good as vinyl? - ggking7 07:29:04 03/08/12 (47)

Fagetaboudit, in the end we all need attenuation, amplification, and a method to transduce the signal. - Vic D 09:25:17 03/10/12 (4)

RE: Fagetaboudit, in the end we all need attenuation, amplification, and a method to transduce the signal. - tmsorosk 17:39:27 03/10/12 (1)

RE: Fagetaboudit, in the end we all need attenuation, amplification, and a method to transduce the signal. - Vic D 19:50:43 03/10/12 (0)

RE: Fagetaboudit, in the end we all need attenuation, amplification, and a method to transduce the signal. - Inmate51 10:06:38 03/10/12 (1)

RE: Fagetaboudit, in the end we all need attenuation, amplification, and a method to transduce the signal. - Vic D 19:23:39 03/10/12 (0)

RE: Will my CDs ever sound as good as vinyl? - nairb 05:25:57 03/10/12 (1)

RE: Will my CDs ever sound as good as vinyl? - tmsorosk 05:47:15 03/10/12 (0)

most importantly, what decades/genres - Adriel 23:04:36 03/09/12 (0)

RE: Will my CDs ever sound as good as vinyl? - Bill the K 18:30:03 03/09/12 (0)

Yes... - Sebrof 09:54:42 03/09/12 (15)

The best digital system I've heard... - mkuller 16:34:13 03/09/12 (4)

"Analog HD"............. - Todd Krieger 22:40:34 03/09/12 (2)

Sorry, I misspoke... - mkuller 10:28:05 03/10/12 (1)

I Suspected............ - Todd Krieger 13:56:06 03/10/12 (0)

RE: The best digital system I've heard... - thebordas 18:51:19 03/09/12 (0)

No. - mbnx01 10:11:10 03/09/12 (9)

So You Are Saying - Sebrof 12:00:20 03/09/12 (1)

you are correct, both formats are moving targets ... - TBone 07:09:42 03/10/12 (0)

Maybe so. - soulfood 10:24:57 03/09/12 (6)

RE: Maybe so. - thebordas 11:19:29 03/09/12 (5)

RE: Maybe so. - soulfood 12:12:02 03/09/12 (4)

RE: Maybe so. - thebordas 13:27:29 03/09/12 (2)

RE: Maybe so. - soulfood 13:47:28 03/09/12 (1)

RE: Maybe so. - thebordas 13:52:38 03/09/12 (0)

RE: Maybe so. - Sebrof 12:55:25 03/09/12 (0)

Not if you play CDs straight out of the jewel box. - geoffkait 07:35:23 03/09/12 (2)

Peter Noone promised him a rose garden?! - driver8 03:27:43 03/10/12 (0)

"Noone promised you a rose garden" You don't remember the slogan: "Perfect Sound Forever"? * - gme109 08:19:55 03/09/12 (0)

RE: Will my CDs ever sound as good as vinyl? - tmsorosk 00:17:19 03/09/12 (0)

With a Well-Set-Up Vinyl Rig, No.................. - Todd Krieger 21:21:12 03/08/12 (0)

Two totally different systems (rooms?). Who knows? - soulfood 19:43:28 03/08/12 (0)

Yes, yes they will....... - Justlisten2 19:02:33 03/08/12 (0)

Not likely, because you like the sound of vinyl better... - genungo 18:43:59 03/08/12 (1)

RE: Not likely, because you like the sound of vinyl better... - jimmyjames 06:05:41 03/09/12 (0)

RE: Will my CDs ever sound as good as vinyl? - fantja 16:13:19 03/08/12 (0)

That Bryston 3B ST amp is a problem - Mike K 16:03:28 03/08/12 (0)

no. - mbnx01 14:58:26 03/08/12 (0)

RE: Will my CDs ever sound as good as vinyl? - geezerrocket 10:40:50 03/08/12 (0)

Have you tried all of these opitions? - gme109 10:00:43 03/08/12 (4)

RE: Have you tried all of these opitions? - Todd Krieger 11:55:17 03/08/12 (2)

RE: Have you tried all of these opitions? - gme109 12:55:34 03/08/12 (1)

Agreed........... - Todd Krieger 22:13:32 03/08/12 (0)

RE: Have you tried all of these opitions? - Dawnrazor 10:10:25 03/08/12 (0)

RE: Will my CDs ever sound as good as vinyl? - Pat D 10:00:36 03/08/12 (1)

RE: Will my CDs ever sound as good as vinyl? - michaelhigh 20:49:03 03/09/12 (0)

RE: Will my CDs ever sound as good as vinyl? - Dawnrazor 08:49:18 03/08/12 (0)

IMHO and experience-No! - Norm 08:10:53 03/08/12 (0)

Follow Ups

With a Well-Set-Up Vinyl Rig, No.................. - Todd Krieger 21:21:12 03/08/12 (0)

With a Well-Set-Up Vinyl Rig, No..................

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